Sunday, February 16, 2025

Sunday, February 16th

Worship live on Sundays in person at 11:00 am,
or on YouTube at noon.

PRELUDE
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
William M. Runyan
led by Leslie and Cynthia

WELCOME, GREETING, AND COMMUNITY LIFE

CALL TO WORSHIP
Luke 1:47-55
Leader: Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!
For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,
and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and He has done great things for me.
Women: He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!
Men: He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.
All: He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.
Leader: He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.
All: For He made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and His children forever.

PRAYER
Redeemer God, with Mary we join our voices in praise to You! You are so generous and marvelously kind. Give us such wonder, love, and gratitude that our praise streams forth from every sinew of our being. Through the power of Your Spirit, help us to joyfully honor Your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* MEDLEY OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
All my life You have been faithful.
All my life You have been so, so good.
With every breath that I am able.
Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.
Oh I will sing of the goodness of God.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand has provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Forever God is faithful.
Forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us.
Forever. Forever.

From the rising to the setting sun.
His love endures forever.
And by the grace of God we will carry on..
His love endures forever.
Sing praise. Sing praise.
Sing praise. Sing praise.

Forever God is faithful.
Forever God is strong.
Forever God is with us.
Forever. Forever.
Praise the name of Jesus!
Praise the name of Jesus!
He’s my Rock. He’s my Fortress.
He’s my Deliverer in Him will I trust.
Praise the name of Jesus!

Ben Fielding / Brian Johnson / Edward Martin Cash / Jason Ingram / Jenn Johnson © Bethel Music Publishing, Capitol CMG Publishing; Thomas O. Chisholm / William M. Runyan © Hope Publishing; Chris Tomlin © Edition Triggertraxx, Worshiptogether.com Songs, Sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, Rising Springs Music

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Don Hodgkinson
Ruth 2:1-10; 4:1-10

Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man of the family of Elimelech whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “To whom does this young woman belong?” The young man who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now without resting even for a moment.”

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?”

* SURELY, IT IS GOD WHO SAVES ME
hymnal #67

CHILDREN’S MOMENT
Boaz Johnson

Children 6 and under are dismissed to Children’s Church in the upstairs lounge. Parents can pick up their children in the lounge after the service.

REFLECTING ON THE WORD
The Marys of the Bible: Recreation Models of Mentoring and Community in the Book of Ruth, part two
Boaz Johnson

* THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES / THERE IS A REDEEMER
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never have come to an end
They are new every morning,
New every morning,
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord,
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you, oh my Father,
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
‘Til the work on earth is done.

Donia Makedonez / John Makedonez © Hillsong Music Publishing Australia; Melody Green © Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publ., Birdwing Music, Ears To Hear Music, Ewi Incorporated

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH & THE LORD’S PRAYER
We continue to pray for: the Anderson family; Nikolas Arden; the Binag family; Messian Burgos; Cathy Cassidy; Frank Coszach; Vira Coszach; Pastor Ryan; Art & Rosa Hamilton; Trevor Hanks; Mary McKirchy; Maria Paulette; Mary Smith; Dorinne Tamras; Lauren Vilardo; Lydia Warrens; and the Westlind family

Ministries & Mission
Jonathan & Faith Ro, serving in East Asia; Renee Nicholas, serving as the national director for InterVarsity’s Graduate Healthcare Ministries

THE LORD’S PRAYER:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

GIVING OF OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS
giving opportunities: ravenscov.org/giving/
Zelle^® to: giving@ravenscov.org

OFFERTORY
North Park University student Zayd Vestal speaks about the upcoming trip to India led by Boaz Johnson

* DOXOLOGY & PRAYER
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* LET US BE KNOWN BY OUR LOVE
Que la alegría sea nuestro motor
En cada hogar y corazón canta al Señor.
Que de nuestras vidas; bondad y esperanza.
Que la alegría sea nuestro motor!

Por la gloria del Padre,
Por la gloria de Jesus,
Por la gloria del Espiritu,
Que la alegría sea nuestro amor!

Let us be known by our love:
Let ev’ry word and ev’ry deed honor the Son.
Let our light shine in ev’ry eye.
Let us be known by our love!

For the glory of the Father,
For the glory of the Son,
For the glory of the Spirit,
Let us be known by our love!

© 2015 Curb Wordspring Music/SESAC (adm by W.B.M. Music Corp.), Bethel Worship Publishing/Mouth Of The River Music/ BMI (adm by Bethel Music Publishing), Common Hymnal Publishing/10000 Fathers/ ASCAP, Common Hymnal Digital/Ryan Flanigan Music/BMI (adm by Capitol CMG Publishing) Songbook design/transcriptions by Owen Stroud (owen@owenstroudmusic.com)

BENEDICTION
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
P: Thanks be to God

POSTLUDE
Ode to Joy
Ludwig van Beethoven
led by Cynthia
please remain seated during the postlude

INVITATION
We’ll be back here next Sunday. We hope you can join us. Information on ravenscov.org.

Please wear a nametag
We’ve had a number of visitors and new attendees lately, and it’s very important that we not only welcome them warmly to our church but also allow them to attach a name to a face. Please wear a nametag and let visitors know who you are! Blank nametags and Sharpies will be available both in the narthex and in the sanctuary.

Dr. Boaz Johnson
We welcome into the pulpit Dr. Boaz Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at North Park University. He serves on the Advisory Board of Covenant World Relief and Development (CWRD). He will conclude his two-part sermon series today on the book of Ruth.

Spring Break trip to India
Dr. Boaz Johnson takes college students to different parts of the world to see how Covenant missionaries (Global Personnel) and Covenant Global Partners are spreading the Good News of Jesus the Messiah in different parts of the world. He has taken students to South Africa, Kenya, and Colombia, among other places. This spring break, March 7-16, he is planning to take students to his homeland, India. They will experience the awesome ministries of the Hindustani Covenant Church. The communion wafers we use were made by women who were rescued by the HCC from sexual trafficking.

Today you are given an opportunity to give towards the expenses of these dear students’ travel and stay, as a retiring offering will be taken via the wooden benevolence box in the narthex. A request from Zayd Vestal, one of the North Park University students who will be going on the trip, will be made during the offering encouraging the congregation to give so that these students may be able to go to India, and that it would have a lifelong impact on their lives.

Thursday evening Bible study
The weekly Bible study meets every Thursday at 7:00 pm. We have recently begun studying the Gospel of Luke, to be followed by its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. The Bible study meets in the upstairs lounge and via Zoom. For more information, please contact Gregory Sager in the church office at (773) 784-7091 or office@ravenscov.org.

2024 annual report
Copies of the church’s 2024 annual report are available in the narthex. Please take one!

Lake County Symphony Orchestra concert
The Lake County Symphony Orchestra, featuring our own Cynthia Arden, along with the Northern Illinois University Choirs and Cor Cantiamo, will present Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as part of the LCSO’s “Timeless Masters” series today, February 16 at 4:00 pm at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St. in Grayslake. For more information, go to https://www.lakecountysymphonyorchestra.com/

Choir begins next Sunday
Next Sunday the choir begins rehearsal for the spring choir season, which lasts eight weeks. The choir rehearses every Sunday at 9 am, and participation in the choir is open to everyone, regardless of his or her ability to read music. Come join us!

Pastor Ryan’s surgery
Please pray for Pastor Ryan, as he continues to recover from his knee surgery eleven days ago. Pastor Ryan is taking time off work until this coming Tuesday. If you have any concerns that require pastoral care during his convalescence, please call the church office and we will provide care.

Scripture reader sign-up
We’re seeking people to read the scripture passages of the day in the worship service for the winter months. If you are willing to be a scripture reader this winter, please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the church office or in the narthex on Sundays, or contact Gregory Sager or Pastor Ryan. Feel free to sign up for more than one Sunday if you so desire.

Tolkien, Lewis & the Christian Life
Jesus People USA is hosting a free seminar next weekend at Wilson Abbey, 920 W. Wilson Ave. in Uptown, entitled, “Tolkien, Lewis & the Christian Life”. Led by Dr. Melody Green, associate professor of Christianity and Culture at Urbana Theological Seminary, it will be a weekend of discussions, lectures, and activities centered around the work of the Inklings, a group of Oxford professors that included J.R.R Tolkien (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings), Christian apologist and fantasy writer C.S. Lewis, and novelist Charles Williams. Dive deep into the world of Narnia, explore the themes of faith, fairy tales, and fantasy, and connect with fellow fans of these legendary authors! For reservations, go to eventbrite.com/e/tolkien-lewis-and-the-christian-life-tickets-1098936662139.

Coffee hour changes
There is now a coffee hour bulletin board downstairs in the fellowship hall! (It’s right next to the kids’ serving window.) Please look there for updated serving instructions as well as to find out what team you’re on. We’ve had some turnover, so we encourage you to sign up to join a serving team if you haven’t done so already. A self-sign-up will now be available on the board so that you can pick which Sundays work best for you. As always, thanks for serving!

Join Us in Sponsoring a Student in the NPTS SRA Program
North Park’s School of Restorative Arts offers a MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts, allowing free and incarcerated students to study together. This unique degree program is designed to prepare individuals for ministries of restoration in contexts susceptible to violence and includes courses in trauma, race relations, nonviolent communication, conflict transformation, restorative practices, and transformative justice, in addition to Bible, theology, and history. In partnership with the Illinois Department of Corrections, this four-year degree is currently offered at Stateville Correctional Center with 80 incarcerated men and a first cohort of 20 women at Logan Correctional Center.

We, Ravenswood Covenant Church, have partnered with North Park Theological Seminary by committing to sponsor a student in this program. To help us support an SRA student please send a check to church or give online and in the memo line write: “SRA Sponsorship.”

Scripture for next Sunday
Psalm 103:3-6
Luke 7:36-50

Our church exists to love and worship God, and love and care for others. By God’s grace, we commit to help people find and follow Jesus Christ through the guidance of His Spirit and His word.